WWE Superstar Zelina Vega recently shared a powerful story detailing how a moment of near despair, after multiple rejections from WWE, was turned around by a pivotal intervention from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, ultimately leading to her role in “Fighting With My Family” and subsequently her WWE contract.
Speaking on the “Ring The Bell” podcast, Vega recounted her arduous journey to WWE, which included eight unsuccessful tryouts. “Quite a lot, yes, and it was no every single time,” Vega said of her early attempts. She explained that these initial tryouts often didn’t allow her to showcase her strong promo skills, a key attribute that later got her hired.
The turning point came after the movie “Fighting With My Family,” which was produced by The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions. WWE talent scouts saw Vega perform a promo as AJ Lee in front of a live audience for the film. This led to an invitation to a WWE promo class. “They got to see me do AJ’s promo in front of the audience, and that’s when they’re like, oh, okay, hey, why don’t you come in and, like, cut this promo about this guy Andrade,” Vega explained. She was hired after that promo.
However, Vega revealed that just before this breakthrough, she was on the verge of abandoning her entertainment career altogether. She had met The Rock previously at a Raw event where he was involved in a segment with Rusev and Lana. Vega, a lifelong fan whose father adored The Rock, finally got to share personal memories with him. They kept in touch, and it was during a period of frustration for Vega that Johnson stepped in.
“There was a day that I was like, I don’t even know at that point how many ‘nos.’ I think it was my eighth ‘no’ from WWE, and then, like, another audition that I had just wasn’t panning out,” Vega shared. “And I was like, ‘Alright, dude, like, I’m done. I think I’m just done with entertainment. Like, I’m just done with it. I just want you to, like, get out of this.'”
In that critical moment, The Rock offered a lifeline. “And he was like, ‘Give me, like, three days. I’m working on something. Don’t abandon ship just yet.’ And then he called me, and he told me about it [Fighting With My Family],” Vega recounted. “It’s still the more… even when I say it, now I’ve said it so many times, but like, even still, saying I’m like, That is crazy. That’s a part of my life story.”
This intervention by The Rock not only provided her a role in a significant film but also reopened the door to WWE, where her promo abilities were finally recognized, leading to her successful career with the company. Her journey underscores the resilience often required in the wrestling business and the impact of key relationships.
Vega also credited Tommy Dreamer for her initial break into TNA (as Rosita), where she won the Knockouts Tag Team Championship. Dreamer spotted her at a show, critiqued her performance honestly, and helped her get a tryout, where she was signed on the spot based on her promo skills.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Busted Open Radio with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
